SOMETHING EXTRA SPECIAL THAT I DO

Do you know what a social therapy dog is? I didn’t until I read about an organization called Lend A Paw and a no-kill shelter called New Leash On Life that rescued dogs from the pound, picked the ones with great dispositions and trained them. A social therapy dog is a comfort animal, not a service dog. They don’t guide the blind, or detect seizures but they are very special kinds of helpers. I saw little Caspy’s picture on the New Leash on Life website. He’d been rescued from a pound, fostered, given obedience training and was up for adoption as a social therapy dog- a calm presence who could bring all kinds of love and attention to people who need it most like the elderly, hospital patients, the developmentally disabled, etc. It was a perfect fit! I applied to the program immediately. Here is in part, why: My amazing daughter Jess, a high-functioning learning disabled adult and I work as self-defense instructors at the Kayne-Eras Center in Culver City California. Our students have many challenges: autism, learning differences, behavior issues, and have benefited from our program called Blocking the Punches. Jess and I have had a lot of training in the martial art called JuJitsu and while we don’t try to make ninjas of our students, we know we really help them recognize danger, prevent assaults, verbal abuse, and learn basic self-defense moves. And when we brought in a stuffed dog to use as a communication tool one day, some of the non-verbal autistic students started talking to the dog!

So our journey with little Caspy— a poodle/havanese mix—began. Jess and I had to get trained to work in the program, have approved supervised hours at various sites until finally we earned our credentials. (Caspy already had his. We just had to catch up.) We visit all kinds of facilities with him and other therapy dog teams. He’s a good listener, never judges, keeps secrets and is also a great family pet. Turns out theses four-legged angels make a huge difference in the lives of the people we visit. Aren’t we lucky?

7 Responses to “SOMETHING EXTRA SPECIAL THAT I DO”

What a great blog! I’ve always been interested in therapy dogs and have a friend who has one, though she’s retired now. She teaches special ed and often took the dog to school with her. It’s amazing how helpful they are. (I also have a friend who has a therapy cat!)

It continues to be such an amazing journey. Little Caspy came to us one month after we’d lost our Boston Terrier Tina (definitely not therapy dog material. Tina was more like a Venice gangster!) Then, upon the heels of that, two weeks after my beloved brother Jim died I spotted little Caspy on the internet. I really think Jim sent him.

What a heartwarming blog, Jane. The only therapy dog I ever met was a Great Pyrennes named Fluffy . . . yes, Fluffy. This big old bear of an animal had more love in him than most humans I know. I watched in amazement as little kids (2 years old sometimes) climbed on his back while he laid there docily and allowed them. God bless you and your daughter for the work you do with these special people and these abandoned animals. Dogs are definitely God’s creatures. We have three of them — a Collie, a Goldie and a Rottie that was left behind when his fmaily moved. All sweethearts.

Thanks so much, Elizabeth. There is a Great Pyrenees working in the Santa Monica Hospital emergency room! He’s not with our program, Lend A Paw but I’ve seen him there. The doctors and staff say he’s a great comfort to them as well as the patients. He takes up most of the corridor!
Please give your dogs a special hug for me!

Dear Jane: You learn something new every day! What a win/win situation for both the animal lover and the dog. I know that pets can do so much to enhance someone’s life, even prolong it. Therapy Dogs, Angel is an understatement. Great blog!!!